Ingot hook



July 23,1946. F STOFFLET 2,404,602

Filed May 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 23, 1946. H STOFFLET 2,404,602

I'NG'OT HOOK Filed May 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 23, 1946. H. F.STOFFLEQIT v INGOT HOOK Filed May 29, 1944- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ea 9. mm;

Patented July 23, 1946 INGOT HOOK Harry F. Stofflet, Allentown, Pa'.,assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company vania ,acorporationof'Pennsyl-Application May29, 1044, snjarnassmsu 2 Claimsf (01. 294- 7) Myinvention relates. in general to apparatus Y for manipulating largecylindrical-bodies, and

more particularly/co a device for quickly lifting and conveyingtremendously heavy metal ingots which have been heated to very hightemperatures.

The production of modern heavy ordnance,

such as big naval guns and the like, necessitates the handling andforging of steel ingots heated to 2000 F. or more of dimensions whichmight be considered extraordinary in peacetime. Some of these ingots maybe as large as 87 inches in diameter, and may weigh as much as 300,000pounds.

Such ingots are customarily heated inlarge carbottom furnaces to properforging temperature, then while hot chains are attached and the ingotremoved by an overhead bridge crane or the like to a hydraulic press forforging.

During the heating operation, the ingot is supported at both ends bybrick blocking on the car platform. To attach the crane chains the ingotmust be swung around to enable the chains to pass the first block on thecar, inevitably dam aging the brick work and eventually the car itself,and requiring the setting up of outside supports for the swung-out end.This takes a good deal of the time of the floor gang and delays themovement of ingots from the furnace to the press, with much loss of heatresulting.

Tongs with conventional scissors action when tried in place of chainshave been found to be of dangerously uncertain grip and to wear outtheir pins and catch devices too quickly under the strenuous conditionsof ordinary operation.

One object of my invention, therefore, is a device for handling quicklyand safely any very large object of generally cylindrical shape.

Another object is a device which will lessen the wear and tear onfurnace cars in manipulating heavy ingots.

Still another object is a simple sturdy tong with a minimum of partsexposed to breakage or shear under severe operating conditions.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will appear hereinafter inthe specification and in the appended claims.

Having thus described the'purposes and advantages of my invention, Ishall now in order to make the same more clear refer to the annexedthree sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like characters of reference indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention in operative positionlifting a fluted round ingot;

' Fig.1 is a side elevation of my invention in liftin positionvas'employed with a turning rig;

. Fig. 3] is a side elevation showing the approach positiono'fmyinvention;

Fig. 4 is an end elevationof my inventionin lifting position;

Fig. 5,is a vertical section taken along the line 5i' Fi -16; j

Fig. 6 is' a top plan view 'of the, invention, f Fig. 7 is a verticalsection taken along thelin'e 11 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5. Referring further to thedrawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral lindicates the hot ingot, which may be corrugated or fluted as in Fig. 1,or having a smooth cylindrical surface as in Figs. 2 to 4, resting onthe brick work 2 on the car platform 3.

Suspended from the crane turning rig or turnover mechanism 4 of Fig. 2by the chain or cable 5, pivotally attached by the pins 6 to the spacedslotted lug blocks 1 and 8, is my hook tong 9. As shownin more detail inFigs. 5 to 9, inclusive, the said hook tong 9 is fabricated of veryheavy J-shaped welded steel plates, the pair of spaced parallel sideplates l0 and II comprising a substantially straight horizontal balancearm portion l2, with a counterweight box l3 at the free end thereof anda dependent curved hook portion l4 terminating in an upturned relativelynarrow tapered nose tip l5 which may be covered with Stellite or thelike to increase its resistance to extremes of weight and temperature.The side plates I0 and H are held in properly spaced welded relation bythe lug blocks 1 and 8, by the diaphragm plates l6, 11, I8, I9, 20, 2|,22 and 23,

the plates I6, 20, 2| and 23 being perforated for cooling, and by theplates 24, 25 and 26 forming the counterweight box l3.

In operation, the counterweight box 13 of the unloaded hook tong 9 isfirst filled with steel scrap or the like to about the level of thewaved line of Fig. 5, or until thebalance arm portion 1 2 stayshorizontal without load. On account of the restricted height of thebrick blocking 2, the hook tong 0 has to approach the ingot I in thishorizontal position, which it takes automatically through its deadweight. The tapered nose [5 can then easily be moved in from the side,as shown in Fig. 3. As soon as lifting with the crane starts and thelive load of the ingot l is taken on, the hook tong 9 will turnautomatically into the position shown in Fig. 2, due to the combinationof the 'claims.--.. -l o Having" thus described my invention what I:claim as new and useful and desireto secure by The hook tong 9 thushandles'ingots quickly and efiicientlyi Itis wide enough'to permit thebalance point to be easily and quickly established, and'use on the jobhas shown that there is no; difiiculty in catching the ingot under itspoint of gravity-and balancing it lengthwise.

By this means the time required for handling a the ingot has beenreduced toaboutone sixth the time formerly taken, the brick blocking onthe car has been preserved for reuse, andthe expense of chains of reatsize has been eliminated. s V.

frequently replacing worn and broken Although I have hereinabovedescribed my vention in considerable; detail, I do not wish to belimited to the'exact and specific details which,

I have shown.and'described, but Imayuse also such substitutions,modifications-or equivalents as. are embraced within the scope andspirit of the invention or pointed out in. the appended 1 '4 1. Alifting device for handling heavy cylindrical bodies such as largeingots or the like,

comprising a hook fabricated of a pair of J-shaped plates held in spacedrelation by diaphragm plates welded therebetween, one end of the shankof the hook carrying a counterbalance and'the other end curved downwardand inward for the load-supportingportion, lugv blocks slotted on theirupper faces and welded between the side plates in the shank of the hook,an overhead conveying and turning rig having a sheave, a flexible linkchain over the sheave, and pivot-pins attaching the link chain to thelug blocks.

7 2 A hook for carrying heavy ingots or the like, comprising a pair ofJ-shaped side plate members of substantial width and thickness, aplurality of diaphragm plates welded between said side members andmaintaining said side members in parallel spaced relation, the curvedend of the book being. turneddownwardly and inwardlyto form theload-engaging portion, "counterweight means on the shank end of thehook, a pair of lug blocks welded between the ,side members. inlongitudinallyjspaced relation intermediate the ends of the hook, andoverhead conveying and turning means pivotally attached to said lugblocks. i ,7

' HARRY F. s'roFmQET.

